Tilting body for automobiles.



Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

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BU B P D T. B. JEFFERY, DEGD. x. 2., 0. T. a H. w. mrrnny, EXEOUTORS.

TILTING BODY FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLIOATIOLI FILED APB.28, 1906.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

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.ZFwezzZox jliwnzmfi Jeffery V r m J51? wrvzegys UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

THOMAS' -B. JEFFERY, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN; KATE E. JEFFER Y, CHARLFIS'1. JEFFERY, AND HAROLD W. JEFFERY, EXECUTORS OF SAID THOMAS B. JEFFERY,

DECEASED.

TILTING BODY FOR AUTOMOBILES;

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

I T all whom it may concern:

Be it 'known that I, .THoMAs B. J EFFERY, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Kenosha, county of Kenosha,State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement inTilting Bodies for Automobiles, and declare the following to be a full,clear,,and exact description of the same, such as 'will enable othersskilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of 4this specification.

Myinvention relates in general to automobiles, and more particularly tomeans for rendering-the mechanism beneath the body readily accessible. I

In most automobiles more or less of the machinery is located beneath thebody. When the engine is single or double cylinder it, as well as thetransmission and other mechanism, is placed beneath the body and eventhose machines in which the engines are located in front, portions ofthe machin ery are beneath the body.

It is frequently necessary to remove the bodies of automobiles'in orderthat the enginesor other mechanism may be examined or repaired. Thisoperation requires time and labor as the bodies have to be disconnec'tedfrom their supporting frames and then lifted therefrom.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an automobile the bodyof which may be easily swung upwardly from either side of the supportingframe thereby permitting the machinery beneath the body to beconveniently examined and'repaired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a combined hinge andclamp for securing an automobile body to its supporting frame by meansof'which the body may be swung upwardly from either side of theautomobile.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference tothe accom panying drawings in which the same is illustrated as embodiedin a convenient and practical form, and in which, I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an automobile embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 a .rear elevational view showin the body swungupwardly; Fig. 3 an enl arged elevational view of the combined hinge andclamp; Fig.- 4 a sectional view on line 44 either examine or re air.

Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 a side elevational view looking from the right inFig. 4:.

Thesame reference characters are used to I designate the same parts inthe several figures of the drawings.

Reference characters A A desi ate the rear and front wheels of an automoile upon the axles of which are supported rear and front s rings B and BC in icates the supporting frame for the body which is mounted upon thefront and rear springs B and B The engine and other mechanism fordriving the automobile are supported by the frame C.

D indicates the crank shaft the ends of which are journaled in bracketscarried by.

the side rails of the frame C and upon which is mounted the fly wheelfl. Inasmuch as the engine and other mechanism form no part of myinvention, it is not necessary that they should be further illustratedor described in order that my improvement may be fully understood.

F designates the bonnet at the front of the automobile which may serveeither as a storage box or to inclose the engine.

' E indicates the foot rest 'wh1ch is fixed to the frame C and throughwhich the steerinq shaft G extends.

I designates the-body of the automobile beneath which is located theengine or other machinery which at times it is necessary to I The body Eis supported upon the rame C and in order that it may be swung upwardlyfrom either side of the frame-I provide a combined hinge and clampconstructed as shown in -detail in Figs. 3' to 5.

' H designates a plate adapted to be rigidly secured to the outersurface of the frame 0 by any suitable means, such .for instance asscrews passing through holes h. The

b plate H is provided with ln s h 72 at its upper edge which are provied with semicylindrical seats in their upper surfaces. The lower end ofthe plate H is provided with an outwardly projecting lug N having anopen slot therein.

K designates a bracket adapted to be rigidly secured to the body of theautomobile 1 immediately above the plate H. Any suitable means may beprovided for securing thebracket to the body as for instance passingthrough screw holes 70. Ears 7c 70 are formed on the bracket K and arespaced apart to receive between them a ring formed at the upper" end ofa rod M. A pin L extends through registering holes in 'the ears in" kand interposed head on the rod M. The ends of the pin L project be- Itwo of such fastening devices H and H located intermediate of the frontand rear wheels so as to be "readily accessible.

The manner of using and operation of my improvement are as follows: Two.or more plates H are secured to each side. of the frame C. A similarnumber of brackets K are secured to each side of the body E in verticalalinement with the plates H. The body is then 'placed upon the frame Cwith the brackets K alining with the respective plates H and with thepins L supported Within the semi-cylindrical seats in the lugs 72, 11.of the several plates. The depending rods N are then swung within theslots in the lugs N on the lower ends of the plates H. The nuts m arethen adjusted upon the rods so as to tightly engage the under sur- 35fface's'of the lugs N thereby clamping the brackets to the plates. 'lVhenit-is desired to swing'the body upwardly from either side of the framethe nuts 12?, on the rods M on such side of the frame are loosenedsufficiently to permit the rods being swung out of engagement with thelugs N. The body.

may then be swung upwardly as the brackets separate from the supportingplates. The united brackets and lates on the opposite side of theautomobi e serve as hinges about which the body swings, the pins Lserving as fulcrums tosupport the body upon the lugs h h of the plates.After the necessary inspection or repair of the engine or othermechanism has been made, the body is permitted to swing downwardly sothat the pins L will again rest upon the lugs kjt after which the rods Mare clamped to the plates H through the engagement of the nuts m withthe lugs N.

It is evident that the body may be swung upwardly from either sideaccording to the position of the automobile or according to the locationof the engine or machiner which is to be inspected or re aired. It isalso evident that the, combine hinges and clamps may be reached by theoperator without the necessity of going under the car. a

automobile body and supportin frame therefor by means of which the bodywill be securely fastened to the frame and at the same time permit thebody to be swung upwardly above the frame from either side thereofthereby rendering the engine and other mechanism normally hidden by thebody readily accessible.

Havin now fully described my invention, what I c aim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automobile, the combination with a body, of a supportin framefor said body, means connecting said. body to said frame for permittingthe body to' be swung upwardly, said means comprising a plate fixed tosaid frame, a bracket fixed to said body, a pin whereby said bracketisadapted to rest upon said plate, and a rod depending from said bracketadapted to detachably engage the lug on said plate.

2. In an automobile, a combined hinge and clamp for detachablyconnecting the body to the supporting frame, comprising a plate fixed tothe frame, lugs formed on said plate having seats therein, a bracketfixed to said body, a pin carried transversely by said bracket andadapted to rest upon the seats in said lugs, a depending rod, pivotallysupported by said pin, a lag on said platehaving a' slot into which saidrod is adapted to swing, and a nut on said rod for engaging theunderside of said lug.

3. In an automobile, a body, a supporting frame, hinges arranged onopposite sides of the body and frame, each of said hinges comprising amember fixed to the bod and nions, and a detachable clamping device forholding said trunnions in said bearing;

'a member fixed to the frame, one of said.

4. In an automobile, abody member, a

supporting member, hinges carried by one of said members, and clampingdevices onoperating with one half of each of the hinges for clamping thehinges to the other of said members so as to permit the hinges to beunclamped Without producing relative movements of said members. 1

In testimony whereof, I sign this spccification in the presence of twowitnesses.

V THOMAS B. JEFFICRY.

\Vitnesses Gro. H. Ennr, Jos. M. Garrmir.

